Device for parking airplanes



Dec. 25, 1945. R WOOD DEVICE FOR PARKING AIRPLANES Filed Aug. '7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 25, 1945. g R wool, 2,391,608

DEVICE FOR PARKING AIRPLANES Filed Aug. 7, 194-4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O m m w m Isnventor ER. Wood Gttorneg.

Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT F F [GE DEVICE FOR PARKIN AIRPLAN E S Floyd R. Wood, Carter Lake, 'Iowa Application August 7, 1944, Serial No. l8,355

- 3 Glaims.

Thepresent invention relates to airplanes and has for anobject to provide a device which is readily attachable to,'and removable from the adjunct parts of the tail wheel axles of airplanes, for facilitating a parking of aeroplanes on the floors of hangars and the like, during a storage thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for said purpose, having an adapter means or hooks so co-operatively constructed that the tool may bereadily attached to different airplanes, the latter having different types of tail wheel axle portions and axle assembly parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the above stated purposes, having an arrangement of parts for locking said adapter means in selected positions and with respect to a towing tongue employed. 7

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of the new device, applied in a position of use, to axle portions of the tail wheel of an airplane, the latter being illustrated. fragmentarily by means of dotted lines, a medial portion of the new device being broken away.

Figure -2 is a top plan view shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of an airplane tail wheel provided with axle portions of elongated type.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modification of the preferred construction.

Figure 6 is an end view of said modification.

Figure '7 is a top plan view of a further modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of the towing tongue of the modification shown in Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a side View of a portion of a modified form of an adapter-hook employed.

It is well known that, as heretofore practiced in the art, considerable time and labor are required to park a small airplane compactly in a hangar and with respect to adjacent airplanes, said operation usually requiring the service of two men for each small plane, and the present invention aims to provide a device so constructed that an airplane may be readily and efficiently parked, through the employment of but one operator.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, and first to Figure 1,'the rear end of the fuselage of an airplane is indicated at H). Near the. rear *end of the fuselage of the new device 'tively disposed over each end thereof.

a pivotally mounted post II is attached thereto, said post usually being an appreciable distance with respect to the rear end 12 of the fuselage, whereby the tail wheel 13 is disposed in a comparatively inaccessible position since saidpost is medially of the sides of the fuselage.

The lower end of the post II is bifurcated for carrying the tail wheel I3 between theforksor two prongs l4 and I5 of the post H. A later described axle extends between the forks for providing a pivotal mounting'for the-wheell3 forsteering the plane during landingand takeoff operations, said steering wheel assemblyabe ing of caster-wheel type as shown inFigure 1. The tires of the tail wheels l3 of airplanes are of varying thicknesses, and diameters, and the hubs of said Wheels are of various width whereby the distance between" the outer surfaces of the nuts l9 and 20 of the average or usual small aeroplane is from 3 to 5 inches.

The upper end of the post is provided with two oppositely and outwardly disposed aligned arms It. Ends of springs such as the springs 1.1 arerespectively attached to .the'outer ends of .the arm l6 and since the springs are of equal tension, they tend to hold the wheel I3 in parallelism with respect to the forward wheels 'ofthe landing gear of the plane during landing operations. The springs l1 are comparatively stiff, whereby the post I I is not easily turnablemanually from the outside of the fuselage and said springs extensively interfere with a ready parking of the vehicle since often one mantis required to turn the wheel I3 from the pilots seat orby means of a manipulation of the rudderwhile another man pushes the airplane about during parking operations.

Referring to Figure 2, the hub Illextends outwardly at each side of the wheel and the outer ends of the hubare respectively disposed'against the forks l4 and 15 of the post ll, nuts I!) and 20 being threaded on the axle shaft 2| ofthe wheel for securing the latter in an operative position with respect to post I l.

Referring to Figure 4, a different type-of axle assembly is there shown, which includes an elongated axle 22, having like sleeves23 respec- The sleeves are secured in position by means of nuts 24. The nuts are threadedly attached to the outer ends of the axle shaft 22. This elongated sleeved axle is employed on certain types of airplanes for certain purposes, said construction being different with respect to that axle construction and its adjunct parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the new device is so constructed that it may be attached to either of said types of axle parts with equal-facility.

The preferred embodiment "of the new 1 device includes an elongated tongue 25. The latter is preferably formed of pipe, having an upturned portion at the rear end thereof for purposes later described. A traversely disposed handle 21 is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the upper rear end of the tongue.

At the forward end of the tongue, the medial portion of a cross-bar 28, is rigidly secured thereto, said bar having arms which extend equi-distantly to each side of the tongue. The outer ends of the arms of the cross-bar are bifurcated and provided with eyes 29 for receiving pivot pins 30. The pins 30 extend through ears 31, the latter being respectively formed on the ribs 26 of oppositely disposed fingers 32 and 33.

As best shown in Figure 2, the fingers are of segmental arcuate shape in plan, having rearwardly disposed end portions 34 which respectively extend through apertures 35' of the headbar 35 of a sleeve 36, said sleeve being welded, or otherwise suitably secured to the member 35.

The forward ends of the fingers 32 and 33 are each provided with a later described adapterhook, and as thus described, it will be noted that at times when the sleeve 36 is moved in the direction of arrow 31, that a corresponding movement is applied to the fingers 32 and 33, for causing the forward ends of said fingers to be moved away from each other and that a movement in a direction reverse to the arrow 31 causes said ends of said fingers to be moved toward each other for purposes later described.

At the rear ends of the fingers, detents 38 are provided for preventing the apertured member 35 from becoming disengaged from the fingers, said detents being formed by means of the heads of set-screws or the like, which are disposed outwardly from the outer side surfaces of the fingers as shown in Figure 2.

Between the sleeve 36 and the rear end of the tongue 25, a collar 38 is slidably disposed upon the tongue, The collar 38 is provided with an upstanding ear 39 for supporting a pivot pin 46. The pin 40 provides a pivotal mounting for a lever 4!, the latter having a rear end 42 which, as shown in Figure 2, is flared in plan.

The forward lower end of the lever 4| is provided with an arcuate lower surface 43 which engages the tongue 25, at times, for locking the collar 38' to the tongue with a camlike action, said locking being accomplished by means of a spring 44. The latter is disposed between and secured to the flared portion of the lever and the collar 38,

in a manner whereby at times when the lever is released, said locking action becomes automatically consummated. For unlocking the lever, the operator presses downwardly on said flared portion with his thumb.

As best shown in Figure 2, a connector or reach-rod 45 is provided; having its ends res'pectively welded or otherwise suitably secured to the rear end of the sleeve 36 and to the collar, for causing corresponding movements of the sleeve with respect to the collar. If desired, the rear end of the rod 45 may be provided with an eye and the latter pivotally attached to the pin 40.

As thus described, it will be noted that the operator, by releasing the lever 4| from the urge of the spring 44, may move the collar 38' longitudinally with respect to the tongue 25 for causing corresponding swinging movement of the forward ends of the fingers 32 and 33 and may look said fingers in desired selected positions with respect to each other by removing his thumb from the portion 42 of the lever 4|.

Referring to Figure 1, the forward ends of the fingers 32 and '33 are provided with adapterhooks 46. The hooks have mouths 41. Each mouth is approximately as wide as the diameter of one of the sleeves of the elongated axle 23 shown in Figure 4. The hooks have circularly shaped openings 48. The diameters of said openings are substantially equal to the diameters of the nuts I9 and 20 for respectively receiving said nuts therein, whereby the members 46 constitute a means or adapter for attaching the new device to an assemblage of portions or parts of an axle of a tail wheel and in instances where said axle parts are of various types.

In operation, to attach the new device to an airplane, having a tail wheel assembly, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the operator releases the lock of thecollar 38 and slides the latter forward in the direction of the arrow 31 for moving the forward ends of the fingers 32 and 33 away from each other sufiiciently to receive the nuts I!) and 20 there-between, whereupon he causes said figures to be moved toward each other for positioning the hooks about the said nuts and against the forks l4 and I5. This part of the operation is consummated while the operator is standing at the rear end of the airplane.

In instances where the rear axle assembly i of elongated type, as shown in Figure 4, the operator causes the mouths of the hooks to be moved downwardly for receiving the sleeves 23 therein, whereupon the hooks are moved towards each other against the forks of the post H. The new tool being attached to either type of tail wheel assembly as above described is then looked thereto by means of the cam or arcuate surface 43 of the lever 4 I.

The new device being attached to an airplane, the operator is now ready to manually tow the plane to a selected position within or out of a hangar for parking the airplane. It will be noted that since the tongue 25 is comparatively long, that leverage is provided for overcoming the, resistance of the springs l! of the post ll during a turning of corners and the like and during a storage parking operation.

Preferably, the upturned portion 25' of the tongue is provided, since, at times when the new tool is attached to a plane, should the operator then lower the rear end of the tongue upon a fioor before completing a parking operation, said upturned end portion 25' facilitates a ready grasping of the handle 21 since the latter is thereby disposed above the fioor, whereby said operation is aided.

The average distance from the axle of its tail wheel to the rear end I2 of the fuselage of the usual small airplane is approximately two to four feet, and since the new tool is greater in length than said distance, the operator may stand erect during the major portion of a towing and parking operation, the upturned end of the tongue aiding in an erect posture at times when the new device is attached to airplanes having a fusilage the rear end of which is comparatively low with respect to a runway or floor.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 the modification there shown includes a tongue having a handle 6|. at its rear end. The forward end of the tongue is provided with a flared portion 6| which is best shown in Figure 6. A finger 63 of approximately L-shape in plan is welded as at 64 to the portion Bl. A similar finger 65 is employed having a bifurcated rear end provided with eyes 66 which receive a pivot pin 61. The pin 61 is also disposed through the flared portion 6| whereby the finger 65 is swingable with respect to the tongue 69 and the finger 63 is integral and stationary with respect to said tongue.

The arcuate portion 68 of the finger 65 is provided with 2. lug 69 for receiving a pivot pin 19. The latter is disposed through said Ins and an eye formed on the forward end of a rod H. The rear end of the latter is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a collar 12.

The collar is slidably disposed on the tongue 60, whereby at times when the collar is moved from its full line position to the dotted line position thereof, as shown in Figure 5, the finger 65 is caused to swing correspondingly for attachment to tail wheel axle parts. The forward end of the fingers 65 and 63 are each provided with adapter-hooks such as are shown in Figures 2, 10 or 9 as may be desired.

For many uses the lock consisting of the cam, lever 4| and spring 44 of the preferred embodiment, shown in Figure 1, may be omitted and said parts are not necessarily employed with the modified structure depicted in Figures 5 and 6.

The tongue 60 of the modification is disposed approximately midway between the fingers 95 and 63, whereby the line of draft is in alignment with the post H of the airplane. This arrangement-of parts being of advantage particularly with respect to said modified structure shown in Figures 5 and 6 for preventing the hooks from slipping off of the nuts [9 and 29 in instances where the modification does not employ the locking means and lever 4| as shown in Figure 2. The operation of the modified form is substantially the same as described with respect to the preferred embodiment with the exception of said lock, the primar advantage of said modified form being that it employs fewer parts and therefore is of a lesser manufacturing cost,

Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9 the further modification there illustrated includes a tongue 89 having its rear portion 8| bent upwardly and its end portion 82 bent at a right angle to said main body portion or tongue for providing a handle 82. The forward portion 83 preferably terminates in an adapter-hook 84 as shown in Figure 9. However, for many uses and application to certain types of tail wheel axle parts, the mouths of said hooks may be omitted and the plain eye hook I96 shown in Figure 10 employed. The forward portion 83 of the tongue 89 constitutes a finger 84' which is integral and stationary with respect to the main body portion of the tongue 89.

A pivot pin 85 is disposed through the tongue and through the eyes 86 of the bifurcated rear end of an L-shaped finger 81 whereby said finger is carried by the tongue and swingable away from and toward the latter.

A rod 88 is pivotally attached, as at 89, tothe finger 81. The other end of the rod is pivotally attached, as at 89, to a lever 90.

As best shown in Figure 8 a plate 9| is welded, as at 92, to the tongue 89. The lever 90 has an end which is pivotally attached to the plate by means of a pin 93. The plate is provided with an arcuate row of holes 94 as shown in Figure 7.

A pull-pin 95 is disposed through the lever 96 and a selected one of the holes 94 for locking the lever to the tongue in selected positions.

In operation the pin 95 is removed and the handle 96 of the lever manipulated for swinging the finger 8! toward and away from the tonguefinger 83 for attaching the device to an airplane .tail wheel, as above described, after which the pull-pin is ,placed through an apertur 94 for locking the device to said tail wheel adjunct portions.

As shown in Figures '7 and 9 the fingers 84 and 8'! are each provided with like bosses 96 which are disposed toward each other from the inner surfaces of the fingers. The bosses, being comparatively thin in cross section, are of advantage for encircling the nuts [9 and 20 in instances wher the forks l4 and l 5 of the post H are provided with reinforcing ribs, not shown, which extend close to said nuts and since said bosses are thin they can be disposed about said nuts without contacting said ribs.

As shown in Figure 7, the handle portion 82 of the tongue 69 extends to one side of the tongue far enough to permit an operator to grasp the medial portion of the handle for towing operations, So that the line of draft is in alignment with the medial portion of the axle of a tail wheel, in instances where that is of advantage and for many towing operations said handle may be grasped at either of its ends as efliciently as in the medial portion thereof for towing purposes.

From th foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an airplane parking device constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will'also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason, I do not wish it to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

1. A device for use in parking an airplane, comprising an elongated tongue. a collar slidably disposed on said tongue adjacent one end thereof, a transversely disposed spacing bar having a medialportion secured to the other end of said tongue, a sleeve slidably disposed on said tongue between said bar and collar, said sleeve having two portions disposed outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, said portions each being provided with an aperture, a finger pivotally attached to each end of said spacing bar, ends of said fingers being respectively disposed through said apertures, the other ends of said fingers being provided with cooperative openings for respectively receiving therein oppositely disposed axle portions of the tail wheel of said airplane, a lever pivotally attached to said collar and having a cam portion arranged to engage said tongue, a spring between said lever and collar for normally urging said cam into an engagement with said tongue, and a reach-rod having its ends respectively attached to said sleeve and collar.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 which is further provided with detent means for preventing said fingers from disengagement with said sleeve portions during sliding movements of the sleeve.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 which is further provided with a handle on that end of the tongue which is opposite to the fingers of said device.

FLOYD R. WOOD. 

